Jamaica has closed its two major international airports and activated more than 650 shelters as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, approaches the island, threatening catastrophic flooding and landslides.

Melissa has already turned deadly across Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the worst may be yet to come with the storm on track to intensify.

The storm is expected to become a major hurricane, and it could bring "life-threatening" flash flooding and landslides to Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

An intensifying Melissa will bring destructive flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic before tracking toward Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas next week.

Tropical Storm Melissa was moving slowly through the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, meaning portions of Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were expected to see major flooding through the week, the National Hurricane Center said.

The US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring a tropical wave moving over the Windward Islands, according to its 8:00 am bulletin on Sunday. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are anticipated as it moves across the region,